Automatic brake-adjuster



(No Model.) v

E. D. EAMES.

- AUTOMATIC; BRAKE ADJUSTBR.. Y 1mm-410,960. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

|||||| mmmm 2 rvlmmmm l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISIIA D. EAMES, OF WATERTOWN, ASSIGNORDF ON E-IIALF TO WILLIAM V A. FOSTER, OF OORNING, NEV YORK.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE-ADJ USTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,960, dated September 10, 1889. Application filed september 22,1888. serai No. 236,092. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ELIsHA D. EAMES, of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented cert-ain Improvements in Automatic Brake-Adjusters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of this invention is to preserve automatically the .adjustment of the brakeshoes to the normal or predetermined distance from the wheels intended to exist when brakes are off, so that upon the wear of the shoes the increased amount of space between the shoes and the wheels will be at once taken up and the original distance between the shoes and the wheels existing when brakes are off reestablished. Various devices for eifecting suoli a result have been projected, some of which have attained a greater or lesser degree of success. Of such may be mentioned the inventions described in Patent No. 352,444, granted November 9, 1886, to John B. Burns, and Patent No. 354,401, granted December 14, 1886, to Elisha D. Eames.

My presentinvention', which embodies the principle set forth in the said two patents, is designed to simplify, cheapen, and render more effective, safe, and reliable the mechanical appliances used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of car-wheels with their brakes and appendages, showing the application thereto of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective, upon an enlarged scale, of the parts entering chiefly into the invention detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in their respective figures.

A A show parts of the truck-frame, and B B the car-wheels. C C are the brake-beams suspended by the links c to the truck-frame. D D are the brake-levers, and E is the lower brake-rod uniting them. F is the rod connecting the upper end of the brake-lever D to the diaphragm, piston, windingstaff, or other agent for the application of power. All

rof said parts and devices may be of any ordinary or approved construction.

oted to the lower brake-rod E, the lever carrying the brake-beam O in the ordinary manner. The other brake-lever D', which carries the brake-beam O, is pivoted to the outer endof a short connection F', which is forked to receive the end of the lever. The fork eX- tends nearly the entire length of the said connection, its inner end being closed at the top and bottom, so as to entirely but loosely surround the rod E, which fits and is adapted to slide within the connect-ion F. One side of the connection F is shown as provided with an opening f near its inner end, and also with a pocket f,which projects from the side of the connection, and with the interior of which the opening f communicates. This pocket is for the reception of a dog f2, which rests within it and extends through the opening fat an angle to the side of the connection, one end of said dog being in contact with the rod E and the other abutting againstthe inner wall of the pocket j". This arrangement allows the rod E to move freely Within the connection .in one direction, but serves to prevent its movement in the opposite direction unless the dog is held out of contact with the rod E, which can be done, when necessary, by inserting a pin through the hole f3 in said pocket. If necessary, a pocket, with its dog, may be employed at each side of the connection F. Neither do I limit my invention to the exact construction and location of the dog or dogs, provided it or they is or are adapted to bite or bind upon the rod in the movement described.

H is a linkor rod pivoted at its outer end to the brake-lever D by the pin cl2. The said end of the lilik or rod H is forked, as at d', to straddle the lever D', and the fork is provided with a slot d, in which the pivotal pin cl2 is adapted to have a movement equal to the predetermined distance between' the brake-shoes and the wheels when brakes are off. The inner end of the link or rod H is furnished with a strap or shackle h, which fits loosely over the lower brakerod E, and is adapted to work thereon, as hereinafter de- The lower end of the brake-lever is pivi IOO scribed. The upper portion of the strap or shackle 7L is provided with a pocket 7L', within which is a dog 712, one end of which is in contact with the upper face of the rod E, and the other end abuts against the inner wall of the pocket 7L in such a manner as to allow the shackle to move freely over the rod in one direction, butto cause it to grip the rod when moved in the opposite direction unless the dog is held out of contact with the rod, which can be done, when necessary, by inserting a pin through the hole 715" in said pocket.

I do not limit myself to the construction or location of the dog, provided it is adapted to grip the rod when moved as described. It will be understood that the opposite end of the lower brakerod E is pivoted to the brakelever D.

The operation is as follows: 'lhe distance which the brakeshoes are designed to move in setting the brakes is, as has been stated, the distance which the pin (72 is capable of moving in the slot (7 of the rod Il. It is therefore seen that so long as the brakeshoes--they having been properly adjusted to have the required movement-are unworn the lever D will in the act of setting the brakes only move a distance sufficient to carry the pin (7.2 the length of the slot (7, and the link or rod II will therefore not be moved; but wear of the shoes having occurred, in order to bring the shoes up to the wheels a greater movement of the lever D becomes necessary, and this will cause thelink or rod ll to bepushed forward and theshackle 7i to slide upon the brake-rod E, the dog 71,2 allowing' this forward movement. lVhen the brakes are released andthelever D returns to the position it occupies when brakes are off, it will carry the link II back with it, and in this return movement the dog 71.2 will bite on the brake-rod E and cause it to move endwise in the direction of the lever D a distance equal to that which the pin (7.2 moved forward in addition to the length of the slot d, and consequently shortening the connection between the brakebeams, taking up the sl ack, and restoring the distance which normally existed between the shoes when off and the wheels. The dogf2 allows this movement of the rod E toward the brake-lever IY; but on a strain being applied to the rod E to move it in the opposite direction the dog f2 will bite on the rod E and hold it rigidly in position within the con neetion I1". It will be seen that the actionis entirelyT automatic, and that the prescribed movement of the brake-slices in the act of braking is always maintained. The movement of the brake-rod E toward the lever D is checked by the end of the rod striking a pin fz', standing` across the forked end of the connection IT', while the movement of the brake-rod E in an opposite direction is limited by its pin 'i' coming in contact with the shoulder 7i'. of the short connection I1".

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a brake mechanism, a brake-lever, a short connection, pivoted thereto, a brakerod adapted to slide upon the short connection, a rod pivoted by means of a slot and pin to the brake-lever and having at its inner end a strap or shackle, combined with a dog applied to or within the strap or shackle and a dog or dogs applied to or within the said short connection, substantially as set forth, the first dog being adapted to grip the brakerod as the brake-lever is moved to shorten said rod, and the second dog or dogs to detain the brake-rod and prevent its return. movement upon the opposite motion of the brakedever, as described.

2. In a brake mechanism, a brake-lever, a bralte-rod, and a shackle connected to said lever carrying a dog, combined with a second shackle, also carrying a dog, and with a link or rod connecting the brake-lever with said second shackle, the construction and operation being such that the brake-rod passing through said shackles shall be adjusted longitudinally as the result of the motion given to them by the movement of the brake-lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ELISIIA I). FAMES. D.. s] lVitnesses:

GEORGE lI. I lowann, E. (JnUsn. 

